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New NBA Hall of Famer Says He Can Play Baseball


By Mike Silva ~ April 2nd, 2012. Filed under: Outside the Apple.

It was announced earlier today that former Indiana Pacer and Knicks nemesis, Reggie Miller, will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this September. Miller is best known around these parts for his exploits against the Knicks in the 1994 and ’95 NBA Playoffs.

NBA TV has a show called “Open Court” that stars Miller, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Kerr, Steve Smith, Chris Webber, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson. It’s an interesting roundtable discussion that encompasses all sorts of talk about the game.

During one segment, Johnson asked the guys if they could have played another sports professionally outside of basketball. Miller claims he was an “all-world pitcher” and that “he could play Major League Baseball today.” Miller is currently 46-years old, but considering that Jaime Moyer is pitching for the Rockies at 49, this might not be far-fetched. Although Miller believes he could be an outfielder that gets on base and can steal bases.

There is baseball in Miller’s genes as his brother Darrell was a catcher/outfielder/first baseman for the Angels from 1984-1988.

The list of MLB players that have starred in the NBA includes Chuck Connors, Mark Hendrickson, Danny Ainge, Frank Baumholtz, Gene Conley, Dave DeBusschere, Dick Groat, Steve Hamilton, Cotton Nash, Ron Reed, Dick Ricketts and Howie Schultz.

You can watch the clip with Miller’s comments below, which includes a picture of him playing sandlot ball.

http://youtu.be/kMgy2rUYOYs?t=1m21s

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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1 Response to New NBA Hall of Famer Says He Can Play Baseball

  1. Ken Bland
    April 2nd, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    Reggie Miller (to me) was a super fun athlete to follow, and a pretty heady interview, so there’s little point in chastising his silly comment.

    Besides, it’s no less silly than both Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp suggesting they could beat Magic one on one in recent LA Times copy.

    Me thinks your well intending piece might look a little more credible by eliminating the term “starred” in describing the NBA careers of the players mentioned. Ainge and DeBusschere, yes, but I don’t believe Groat was (great collegian at Duke maybe). I don’t recall Conley being described as a star either.

    Might well be wrong, but I think ex MLBer Frank Sullivan (50′s-60′s) might have played some NBA, too.

    Anyway, Reggie’s nuts, and I know Knick fans typically hate the guy, but I loved watching him.

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